Marius Pienaar

My Story:

I was at 140Kg’s before surgery and I am now 70Kg’safter surgery. This has changed my life and given me a second chance to live my life to the fullest with my wife and children. When I asked my kids what has changed since my op my daughter said “we don’t have to do so much for you anymore” and this has been a revelation to me. I truly believe that once you are obese there is no other way to get your life back.
As a traveling business man it was not possible for me to go on diets and eating plans. And for a fat person with no routine it was impossible to do exercise.

Marius – Before Surgery 140 kg

Marius – After Surgery – 10th April 2011. weight 70Kg

This is now the new me. I love shopping for clothes I don’t think I have ever in my life had so many clothes. I used to struggle to buy clothes, I now wear a medium size shirt and a size 32 pants, I used to wear XXXL shirt and a 50 pants. I am able to take on new challenges like Bungee Jumping and just going to the beach with my kids.
I would recommend this to anyone as long as you are mentally ready for the life change. When people ask me “can you still eat the same things you used to” or “can you still drink alcohol”. My answer is simple WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DO THE SAME THINGS THAT MADE YOU FAT and if this means you don’t have those friends anymore well then they weren’t very good friends in the first place.

“Own your body and make life a journey.”

PS. I have joined the Bariatric Surgery Support Group and serve on the Committee for 2011-2012. However due to my work schedule and travel commitments I am only able to offer E-mail Support. I will gladly share my experience of my weight-loss journey with all our Support Group Members

Archives

Archives

‘Love Your Body’ to Lose Weight

Almost a quarter of men and women in England and over a third of adults in America are obese. (In South Africa statistics on the percentage of overweight and obese people indicate that obesity and its co-morbidities are on the increase, with Cape Town leading the way!) Obesity increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease and can significantly shorten a person's life expectancy. New research published by BioMed Central's open access journal International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity shows that improving body image can enhance the effectiveness of weight loss programs based on diet and exercise.

Researchers from the Technical University of Lisbon and Bangor University enrolled overweight and obese women on a year-long weight loss program. Half the women were given general health information about good nutrition, stress management, and the importance of looking after yourself. The other half attended 30 weekly group sessions (the intervention plan) where issues such as exercise, emotional eating, improving body image and the recognition of, and how to overcome, personal barriers to weight loss and lapses from the diet were discussed. On the behavioral intervention plan women found that the way they thought about their body improved and that concerns about body shape and size were reduced. Compared to the control group they were better able to self-regulate their eating and they lost much more weight, losing on average 7% of their starting weight compared to less than 2% for the control group. Dr Teixeira from Technical University of Lisbon, who led the research, said, "Body image problems are very common amongst overweight and obese people, often leading to comfort eating and more rigid eating patterns, and are obstacles to losing weight. Our results showed a strong correlation between improvements in body image, especially in reducing anxiety about other peoples' opinions, and positive changes in eating behavior. From this we believe that learning to relate to your body in healthier ways is an important aspect of maintaining weight loss and should be addressed in every weight control program."

Motivation

incred Medical Finance

Also known as bariatric surgery, weight loss surgery constitutes a number of procedures all with one goal in mind being weight loss for the patient suffering from obesity. Along with this primary goal, other effects from such procedures are an improvement in cardiovascular functions and decrease in associated risk or even full recovery from diabetes. The procedures involved can either make use of specific apparatus or even altering of the digestive organs.

Rules for Successful Dieting

Follows five basic rules:

Rule One: Eat Your Target Protein Every Day

By consuming the minimum amount of protein for your body, you maintain energy, muscle mass, and keep your hunger in check.Rule Two: Take Your Supplements Every Day
The daily nutritional supplements we prescribe to you will have a positive effect on your long-term health, energy, and longevity. Rule Three: Drink Water Every Day
As your body burns calories, waste products are released through urine. Drinking at least 64 ounces of water daily helps release these waste products so they don’t build up and slow your metabolism.Rule Four: Continue an Exercise Program
Getting the right amount of exercise is an essential part of successful long-term weight control and total well-being. Rule Five: Be Consistent with Your Diet
If you stick to your daily eating prescription and keep your caloric intake consistent from day to day, you increase your chances of maintaining your optimal weightGet your Maintenance Diet Plan today contact our resident Dietitian:Judy Kotze - Dietitian Special interest: Bariatric Nutrition BSc (Dietetics) - Diploma in Hospital Dietetics M (Nutrition) Durbanville Medi-Clinic Tel: 27-21 975 2336 Fax 27-21 9752692 Mobile: 083 254 0919

Dr Etienne Swanepoel – Surgical Solution

Follow Us!

Support Group Monthly Meeting

Support Group Monthly Meeting

Bariatric Surgery Support (BSS) is a Cape Town based Support Group for people seeking information and Support about Weight-Loss Surgery. We deal with a host of pre and post operation issues aimed at facilitating your journey to a healthier life style.

Cosmetic Surgery Finance

First Health Finance offers medical payment plans to patients unable to afford a medical procedure, or where their medical aid does not cover the procedure. The offering is a specialised medical loan and is not in any way connected to a medical aid. Read More

Key Lifestyle Changes with Weight Loss Surgery

Some of the most important lifestyle changes to adapt to after weight loss surgery include:

* Slowly increasing physical activity
* Assessing and logging in daily food intake
* Undergoing counseling to adapt to the changing body image
* Eliminating social situations that promote overeating
* Tackling any emotional issues that triggered overeating with a therapist
* Making time to prepare special foods and meals to complement a healthier lifestyle